Book Review of The Man His Father Was by Pat Leonard

 

 

 

The Man His Father Was

by Pat Leonard (Goodreads Author)

From the back of the book:

Through four generations, the Leonards were often witnesses to – and even minor participants in – many of the formative events in early American history. Skilled yet profane laborers, they sailed over from old England to help build the first ironworks in America, where they withstood not only the life-and-death struggles that faced all settlers, but the enmity of zealous Puritan neighbors whose morals they did not share. Finally driven from Massachusetts by way of the notorious Salem courthouse, and hastened by the bloodiest conflict on American soil, they arrived in what seemed to be a paradise by comparison – only to discover they had traded persecution for political anarchy.
Spanning 139 years – from the original settlements in New England through the crisis of the American Revolution – The Man His Father Was brings to life some of early America’s most memorable events and noteworthy personalities. With documented appearances by both the famous and infamous – including colonial patriarchs, military leaders, Indian sachems, inventors, murderers, itinerant preachers, healers, educators, and a brilliant and beautiful poetess whose sparkling works have only recently been rediscovered – this is a rags-to-riches-to-rags epic that demolishes the notion that our forefathers were uniformly pious and cheerless.
And most of the story is true. 

Leona's Review:

This book is fiction but based on real characters of American History.  Pat Leonard has really brought the past into a personal story for the reader  .

The book begins in New Jersey in 1695 in Massachusetts and ends in Pennsylvania in 1863. It is divided into four sections with a Leonard giving the story in first person.

There is a map in the front of the book as well as the family tree of the Leonard family.  A list of some historical figures are also on the page with dates of the births and deaths of the people.

There are some illustrations: The Furnace and Forge at the Saugus Ironworks, The Keith Line 1687 Map by John P. Snyder, The fort at Loyalhanna (Ft. Ligonler) and Soldiers' huts at Jockey Hollows, Massachusetts, Nassau Hall, Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church, Philadelphia and Margaret Leonard's Headstone, Princeton Cemetery.

What a good book to read for anyone interested in the history of America. Book One is Samuel, Book Two is James, Book Three is Infant-John and the last section is John Jr.

Many historical figures such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Aaron Burr. I did not know many of the characters that helped make our country. Annis Boudinot Stockton and her husband, Richard. Richard was one of the signers of The Declaration of Independence and Annis was an American poet and one of the first women to be published in the Thirteen Colonies.

These were harsh days for the Leonard families as well as good days. It gets very emotional as we read of the struggles of everyday life and the fight for the freedom of America.

I do genealogy for my family tree. The Man His Father Was is one of the best examples of a family history that I have ever read.The book is written as a novel but I felt it put the reader in the time period and was involved in the personal lives of the Leonard families.

The book is dedicated to Sam.

A wonderful book for a gift for your family or anyone you know interested in  the history of America. 

I received a signed compliment copy of The Man His Father Was from goodreads.com and the author, Pat Leonard.

I definitely give this book a 5 star rating. The opinions are my own.

Pat Leonard may be found at www.goodreads.com/author/show/1071019.Pat_Leonard

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

Book Review of The Corpse Wore Tartan by Kaitlyn Dunnett

 Book review of The Corpse Wore Tartan by Kaitlyn Dunnett,

A Liss MacCrimmon Scottish Mystery

From goodreads.com: 

Can there be such a thing as too many men in kilts? Normally Liss MacCrimmon, proprietor of Moosetookalook, Maine’s one and only Scottish Emporium, would say no. But that’s before one of them turns out to be murderous…

The bagpipes are blaring at Moosetookalook’s finest hotel, reopened just in time to host an annual celebration of Scotland’s most beloved poet. But when the Scottish Heritage Appreciation Society arrives on the scene, they bring more than a hunger for haggis and a passion for plaid. The quarrelsome group harbors their share of long held grudges, and the animosity only grows as the whiskey flows. Then a fierce blizzard hits, trapping everyone—angry Scotsmen, hapless hotel staff, and Liss herself—indoors.

It isn’t long before a body is discovered face down in a storage room, covered in tartan—and blood. Now Liss will have to work fast to solve this crime before another body goes as cold as the snowstorm keeping her cooped up with a killer.

 

Leona's Review:

There is a group called the Scottish Heritage Appreciation Society (SHAS) holding a conference at The Spruces Hotel, named for the beautiful trees. Liss MacCrimmon is the part owner of the Moosetookalook Scottish Emporium. 

The first crime is the report of a stolen brooch that was taken from the room of Phil MacMillan. The second is the death of one of the members of the group.

 

Phil has a twin, Phineas, and a wife Eunice. Some other characters are Joe Ruskin, the owner of the hotel, Sherri from the police, Harvey MacHenry and Richardson Bruce who are members of SHAS.

 

There is some romance in the book with Liss and Dan Ruskin who is the son of the owner of The Spruces.

To make matters worse, there is a snow storm that cuts the electricity and the people in the hotel are stranded. 

This is my first read of the series of these books. They are Kilt Dead, Scone Cold Dead, A Wee Christmas Homicide and The Corpse Wore Tartan. The author became interested in Scottish heritage after her husband began to play the bagpipes. 

I have to give this a 3.5 star rating. Not a 4 star rating but also not a 3 star rating. I wish there had been more information about the Scottish heritage and customs.  I also wish there had not been so much fighting among the members of the group. The book did keep the reader guessing. The book could be read as a stand alone but I think it would help to have read the other books in the series.

 

The opinions are my own.

I won this book from the author and from goodreads.com.  Kaitlyn Dunnett signed the book and that was a nice thought.

Kaitlyn Dunnett may be found at www.kaitlyndunnett.com 

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com

Book Review of A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

 

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From goodreads.com

A Name Unknown (Shadows Over England #1)

by Roseanna M. White (Goodreads Author)

A Name Unknown (Shadows Over England #1) 

 

Edwardian Romance and History Gains a Twist of Suspense

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?

 

Leona's Review:

 

I have enjoyed Roseanna White's books and A Name Unknown was no exception.

 

When Rosemary is offered a lot of money from Mr. V to find information that Peter Holstein is not loyal to England. She knows this amount of money could help her "family" of street thieves find a real home and a place the young children could go to school. Peter's family is German and this is the beginning of talk of a war with Germany in 1914.

 

She pretends to be a librarian that will organize Peter's vast collection of books and is hired for the job.

 

Unknown to her, Peter is an author under another name. She wonders what he is doing daily at his typewriter.

 

The author has named a number of books in Peter's collection which includes Melville's Moby Dick. Rosemary was not impressed about a book which is about a whale so she chose a book that was written by Peter in his pen name not knowing he was the author.

 

A young girl in Rosemary's "family" was badly injured when she is pushed into the road and a horse drawn carriage hits and seriously injures her.

Peter is very religious and throughout the book the reader will see references to God and Jesus. Rosemary asks Peter if he will pray for Olivia as she said "Perhaps God will listen to you" and the meaning being "because he never listens to me."

 

Historical names such as Queen Victoria, King George, Prince Edward, Winston Churchill, Conan Doyle and Martin Luther are in the book. This book had many historical facts and for those who want to learn something of the hardships of the poor, the problem with having a German name in pre-war times and friendship this is a good read that is full of mystery and a lot of history.

 

It is a clean Christian book.

I received a complimentary copy of A Name Unknown from Bethany House. The opinions are my own.

It gets a 5 star rating.

 

The reader may find Roseanna M. White at www.roseannawhite.com

 

Leona Olson

http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com